EVs of all shapes and sizes are finally coming, but not in equal measure. While we now have a solid array of midsize crossovers (like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6), sedans and SUVs aren’t quite there yet. Sure, we have expensive sedans and SUVs, like the Rivian R1S and the Lucid Air, but if you’re looking for a car for your small family and don’t want, or can’t afford, to spend a ton of cash, your options are limited.
But that’s changing — and there’s a new car that, at least right now, makes a serious case for itself. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the best electric sedan for the masses, and it goes right up against the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. With a base price of $41,600, the Ioniq 6 is right in the same league as the $40,240 Model 3 and $48,400 Polestar 2.
When it comes to lower-priced electric sedans, before now, there were really only two options: the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2. Other sedans exist, but they’re not accessible by the majority of drivers. I recently reviewed the Lucid Air Grand Touring and loved it — but I’m not spending $138,000 on a car unless I win the lottery.
And, to be clear, neither the Tesla Model 3 or the Polestar 2 are bad cars. On the contrary, they’re both great options. The Model 3 has the benefit of Tesla’s excellent charging infrastructure and superior in-car software, while the Polestar 2 has a great build quality and high-quality materials.
But both of those cars also have issues that the Ioniq 6 solves. Tesla’s cars aren’t exactly lauded for their build quality, and they’re a little bare for many on the inside. The Polestar 2 is more expensive than the other options, plus its range tops out at 270 miles.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 solves those problems. I had a chance to drive the car, and I found the build quality to be better than Tesla’s — just like the Ioniq 5. While the software isn’t as refined as that in the Tesla, it supports CarPlay and Android Auto — which I still prefer to Tesla’s interface. Plus the Ioniq 6 charges faster than a Tesla car, supporting the 350kW fast charges that can get a car to 80% in under 20 minutes.
The Polestar 2 is a slightly tougher competitor. It’s an excellent car built by a company with a history of excellence (Volvo). But it’s also limited in range — maxing out at 270 miles, which just so happens to be the range of the lowest-range Ioniq 6 Limited. At the top end, the Ioniq 6 can hit 361 miles of range, which is almost 100 miles more than the Polestar 2.
There are other things that I like more about the Ioniq 6, too. Both cars look great, but the Ioniq 6 is definitely flashier and sleeker, which might make it more appealing to some buyers. And, it has quite a comfortable interior — though again, so does the Polestar 2.
If there’s one thing the EV industry needs right now, it’s a price war — and it’s not unthinkable for that to happen. Over the past six months or so, Tesla and Ford have engaged in such a price war with the Model Y and the Mustang Mach-E, and it has resulted in much lower prices for customers. The Ioniq 6 is already inexpensive, but so is the Model 3 at this point — and hopefully, the increased competition will push both into the sub-$40,000 price range.
Even if it doesn’t, at least there’s increased competition — and more choice is always a good thing.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.